Minerva

Spraying fibrin into the operation site during total knee replacement is no better at reducing postoperative blood loss than giving a dose of intravenous tranexamic acid, according to a direct, placebo controlled comparison (Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (Br) 2007;89-B:306-9, doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.89B3.17565). Both agents significantly reduced blood loss compared with giving nothing.

Wanted: ground breaking, accessible initiatives to be nominated for the 2007 Integrated Health Awards. Any organisation can apply if it takes an integrated health approach to help people achieve the best possible health and wellbeing. Integrated health emphasises prevention and education and takes a more holistic approach than conventional medicine, which, according to the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health, which is offering the award, “tends to view the body as a machine made up of components that sometimes break down.” See www.fih.org.uk.

Although Jehovah's Witnesses usually refuse whole blood products, they …